Where to stay in Florence: best areas and neighbourhoods
Florence, and especially its ancient, red roof-tiled centro storico, is a compact little gem of a city so wherever you choose to stay, you are never going to be too far from the main sights and a good selection of restaurants, bars and interesting shops. The plethora of hotels (with new openings being added regularly) range from top-of-the-pile five star contenders from international brands such as St. Regis, Four Seasons, Belmond and Rocco Forte to off-radar cheap and cheerful boltholes with lots in between.
You just have to decide whether you want to be in the thick of the action in the city centre (and to deal will the droves of tourists), to take up residence among the artisan workshops, independent boutiques and quirky osterias of the Boho-chic and less crowded Oltrarno, or to escape to the hills, a particularly attractive prospect during the often oppressively hot and humid Florentine summer. There’s something for everyone; here is our guide to where to stay in Florence.
The Duomo and Piazza della Signoria
For many centuries, Florence’s religious and civic heart has been centered around the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Today, the main drag that runs between the two throngs with tourists and the inevitable accompanying food outlets, market stalls and souvenir shops. If you want to be in the thick of things – and on the doorstep of such sights as Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, the ancient Baptistery, medieval Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi gallery – this is where to make your base.
Fashionistas will find rich pickings among the designer stores of elegant Via Tornabuoni, and there are also lots of good shopping opportunities in the streets between the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio to the south. Grandiose it all may be, but you’ll need to go further afield if you are after a slice of local life – to the north lies Piazza San Marco, its adjacent convent decorated with superb frescoes by Fra Angelico, and a quiet, mainly residential neighbourhood.
Where to stay
A historic hotel with a prime position between the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, and a young, fresh vibe. It offers excellent services and a good restaurant, too. Read expert review From £ 457 This historic hotel, part of the dynamic, Florence-based Starhotels group, offers classic comforts, bags of atmosphere and a super-central location. The largest spa in central Florence and a buzzy cocktail bar adds to the appeal. Read expert review From £ 310 This 'residenza d'epoca' combines Florentine elegance with exceptionally warm hospitality in an unbeatable location close to some of the city's most popular sights. The personal input of the owners is well over and above the call of duty. Read expert review From £ 270 This smart, stylish hotel enjoys a prime spot on traffic-free Via Tornabuoni and is close to all the main sights and plenty of interesting bars, restaurants and cafés. The USP is the roof terrace with lounge bar and magnificent wraparound views. Read expert review From £ 297 A welcome shake-up for Florence’s accommodation scene that has certainly set local tongues wagging. Time will tell whether the combination of central location, excellent facilities (including on-site parking) and the quirky design will prove to be a serious rival to the city’s more traditional four-star hotels. Read expert review From £ 148• The best hotels in Florence
Santa Croce and the east
The wide open space that is Piazza Santa Croce is surrounded by leather shops, markets stalls, restaurants and cafés. To the northeast is the buzzing neighbourhood of Sant’Ambrogio centered around one of the liveliest markets in Florence and characterised by small, independent boutiques, artisan workshops, characteristic restaurants and bars, cafés packed with locals and the odd tripe stand. It has a feel of ‘real Florence’ yet the main sights are only five minutes away on foot. On the doorstep is the church of Santa Croce itself, filled with frescoes by Giotto and Gaddi, the tombs of Machiavelli, Dante et al, the Pazzi chapel, the Bargello museum and the ancient Badia Fiorentina. At night, the square and surrounding narrow streets fill with partying students and late-night clubbers.
Where to stay
This boutique-style, five-star hotel is housed in grand Palazzo Ciofi-Jacometti and will appeal to anyone who cares for a taste of aristocratic living. With the excellent in-house restaurant as well as a three-star Michelin restaurant in the same building, it also has particular gourmet cachet. Read expert review From £ 352 Florence’s most lavish hotel is housed in a magnificent Renaissance palazzo and set in 11 acres of mature gardens. Well-removed from the tourist hordes, it offers superb resort facilities and the sort of polished service you would expect from the Four Seasons brand. Read expert review From £ 524• The most romantic hotels in Florence
Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo and the west
These two medieval parishes stand side-by-side, part of Florence’s ‘centro storico’, and take in a swathe of the city from the northwest bank of the Arno to the main train station and the San Lorenzo market. Stuffed with historic palazzi, museums and churches, both neighbourhoods nonetheless have a more earthy side. The lively market area, home to the Mercato Centrale food hub as well as stalls selling affordable leather, budget clothing and accessories, is full of cheap trattorie and cafés, funky boutiques and ethnic grocer’s shops and teems with a mix of locals and foreigners.
For culture vultures there’s plenty to see: the glorious churches of Santa Maria Novella and San Lorenzo; the Medici chapels; Ghirladaio’s Last Supper painting in the church of Ognissanti; and Benozzo Gozzoli’s exquisite, jewel-coloured frescoes in the Chapel of the Magi.
Where to stay
The Place occupies a tall, elegant townhouse in the centre of Florence, just south of Santa Maria Novella Station. With its immaculate interiors, cocooning atmosphere and exceptional service, it’s the perfect Florentine pied-à-terre. The buzzy terrace bar is a cool hangout on sultry summer evenings. Read expert review From £ 408 A hotel in the grand style, the St. Regis offers a wonderful location on the north bank of the Arno, professional yet very pleasant five-star service and all the luxuries you would expect from the brand. The Michelin-starred restaurant is an added bonus. Read expert review From £ 432 If the idea of sampling life in a grand palazzo appeals, this hotel is an ideal choice. With its plethora of original features and air of discreet luxury, the hotel is well placed for visiting the sights yet feels removed from the worst of the crowds. The lovely hanging garden is a delightful surprise. Read expert review From £ 192 In a city that sometimes seems devoid of locals, Florence’s impressive Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites stands out not only for its exquisite interior design, featured on the cover of Italian Architectural Digest, but also for its authentic Florentine hospitality. Read expert review From £ 109 The first Italian opening of the Dutch-based The Student Hotel (aka TSH) chain lies a couple of tram stops from the centre of Florence and offers fantastic facilities including a rooftop pool, highly competitive rates and a hip, buzzy vibe. And in spite of the name, it’s not just for students. Read expert review From £ 76• The best luxury hotels in Florence
The Oltrarno
The area of the city that lies ‘beyond the Arno’ hugs the south bank of the river, a long, narrow swathe of land that encompasses a number of Florence’s most important monuments (Palazzo Pitti, the Brancacci Chapel, the Boboli gardens and the church of Santo Spirito), some great places to eat and drink and lashings of boho-chic charm. Pretty, tree-filled Piazza Santo Spirito, the hub of the ‘quartiere’, hosts a small market on most mornings where locals still come to shop and gossip about the day’s goings-on. At night, the area fills with a lively mix of students, uber-cool Florentines and tourists; on warm summer evenings, they hang out in the square until the wee hours.
The Oltrarno is famous for its plethora of artisan workshops, and a wander round the narrow cobbled streets around Piazza Santo Spirito, Via Maggio and Piazza Pitti will turn up iron mongers, furniture painters and restorers, upholsterers and book binders. If you are looking for a more authentic Florence, this is a great neighbourhood to be based in.
Where to stay
AdAstra is set in the largest private garden ‘intra moenia’ (between walls) in Europe. Inspired by the concept of a Parisian hotel particulier, this boutique hotel has the feel of an aristocratic private apartment which is not far from the truth – the Marchese Torrigiani lives on the ground floor. Read expert review From £ 163 A stylish guesthouse with a spot-on retro vibe and a wonderful location in the hip Oltrarno district, with reasonable prices. This place will appeal to independent travellers and fans of vintage design. Cultural attractions are on the doorstep, including the Pitti Palace and Ponte Vecchio. Read expert review From £ 162 This is the flagship hotel of Florentine fashion heir Leonardo Ferragamo’s Lungarno Collection, and the most traditional of the group. It offers an unbeatable location just steps from the Ponte Vecchio, five-star service, magnificent river views, and gourmet dining. Read expert review From £ 404 This small, quiet hotel has a prime location in the heart of the Oltrarno, with a "Room with a View" atmosphere along with modern-day amenities. The USP is the magnificent wrap-around loggia, surely one of the most romantic spots for a post-sightseeing prosecco in the city. Read expert review From £ 167 A hip, laid-back home-from-home with a party-house feel and a location that is as offbeat as the hotel itself. Riva is a stylish retreat offering sharp design and keen prices, as well as modern suites, a riverside garden, swimming pool and complimentary bikes. Read expert review From £ 123• The best boutique hotels in Florence
Florence is surrounded on three sides by hills dotted with mellow villas and planted with cypresses and olive groves; in high summer, when temperatures in town soar and humidity levels become unbearable, these suburbs offer cool relief and a sense of rural bliss. Some of Florence’s most exclusive hotels are located here, set in beautiful gardens complete with pools and spas and yet only a few minutes’ shuttle bus ride from the ‘centro storico’ and all it has to offer. This means that you can put in a whole day’s sightseeing in town and be back at your hotel in time for an evening swim and al fresco dinner on the terrace.
Where to stay
A fantasy world of immaculately-restored luxury, Villa Cora is an outstanding hotel offering a superb facilities, impeccable service and a best-of-both-worlds location. The lovely garden and pool are a calm, cool refuge after a hot, sticky day in central Florence. Read expert review From £ 332 Villa San Michele – one of Florence’s most expensive hotels – is housed in an ancient former monastery, and combines Renaissance atmosphere with 21st-century comforts galore. For some, the off-radar location will be a boon while others may feel out of things. Note that the hotel closes in winter. Read expert review From £ 1,047 A Renaissance villa in the grand style; its original features still intact. The Torre di Bellosguardo offers authentic atmosphere rather than luxury, a superb location away from the crowds and good value. Read expert review From £ 281 With its peaceful, rural setting on the south bank of the Arno just upstream from Florence, Villa La Massa will appeal to those seeking the best of both worlds. This Medici villa is to all intents and purposes a country resort, but just 20 minutes' drive away from Florence's artistic treasures. Read expert review From £ 498Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in Florence as a first time visitor?
The Duomo and Piazza della Signoria are at the historic core of Florence. The Duomo (Florence Cathedral) features the iconic dome by Filippo Brunelleschi. In this area, you'll also find major sites such as the Baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi gallery.
What is the most romantic area to stay in Florence?
While the central Duomo and Santa Maria Novella areas boast romantic hotels such as The Place Firenze, Palazzo di Camugliano, Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1, and The Continentale at the north end of the Ponte Vecchio, the most romantic neighbourhood to stay in is the Oltrarno (south of the Arno River) where we you'll find hotels including The Lungarno and Ad Astra, as well as the Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti and artisan workshops. Or head to the hills for the ultra-romantic Villa Cora. See more romantic hotels in Florence.
Where is best to stay in Florence with family?
For minimum walking with children, stay close to the main attractions in the Duomo district. Family-friendly hotels here include Hotel Savoy and Portrait Firenze. In the neighbouring Santa Maria Novella district, Hotel Santa Maria Novella and Grand Hotel Minerva cater well to families. Or head out of town to give them more space to run around; try Villa La Massa or Belmond Villa San Michele. See more family-friendly hotels in Florence.
- An exceptional hotel with a centralissima location and a discreetly luxurious atmosphere, Portrai... Read expert review
- A fantasy world of immaculately-restored luxury, Villa Cora is an outstanding hotel offering a su... Read expert review
- The Place occupies a tall, elegant townhouse in the centre of Florence, just south of Santa Maria... Read expert review
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